Jammu, Mar 18: Around 30 shopkeepers from Jammu’s Nai Basti, who received eviction notices from Highway Authorities for the expansion of the Satwari-Bikram-Chowk stretch of the Jammu-Pathankot highway, launched a hunger strike on Tuesday, demanding proper rehabilitation. The protest followed several unsuccessful meetings with the administration.
The families, led by local BJP leaders, accused the administration of deliberately delaying their relocation, despite a commitment made by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in July last year. BJP leader and former corporator Pawan raised concerns, stating that the promises made during previous meetings were ignored. “In the last meeting three months ago, JMC Commissioner gave verbal assurances that shopkeepers would be relocated to the under-construction Chanderbagha Hall, but eviction notices were served without any relocation plans,” he said.
BJP MLAs Sham Lal Sharma, Surjit Singh Salathia, Vikram Randhwa, and Dr. Narinder Singh had previously raised the issue with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The BJP also brought the matter up in the Assembly, calling for proper rehabilitation of the 39 shopkeepers affected by the ongoing construction of a flyover from Kunjwani to Satwari.
Congress working president Raman Bhalla expressed solidarity with the protesting shopkeepers, criticizing the LG administration for not honoring its earlier commitments, even after BJP leaders had distributed sweets in celebration.
Tags: Northlines, Jammu and Kashmir
